Potvin



1 R. POTVIN 2,735,667

COAL MINING APPARATUS WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE CUTTER BARS Filed Nov. 27, 1951 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q 9 WW Willi 5 '7 ll IH H Ram/7 Fbivin dfioz'ezeg/ R. POTVI N Feb. 21, 1956 COAL MINING APPARATUS WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE CUTTER BARS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1951 NM QM w m% V wdw Q hm mm a g M 5 M .Qvm ow w m \w ww d 6 Q w I 1 3M 1 M a 1 Q Q t JIP b 2 Q a mm mm aifazwzey R. POTVIN Feb. 21, 1956 COAL MINING APPARATUS WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE CUTTER BARS Filed Nov. 27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sh eet s Feb. 21, 1956 R. POTVIN COAL MINING APPARATUS WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE CUTTER BARS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 27, 1951 Feb. 21, 1956 COAL MINING APPARATUS WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE CUTTER BARS Filed Nov. 27, 1951 R. POTVlN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lay-1a.

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aazlzzzlll nited States Patent COAL MINING APPARATUS WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE CUTTER BARS Raoul Potvin, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 27, 1951, Serial No. 258,337 15 Claims. (Cl. 262-29) This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to a combined cutting and loading machine for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein and for loading the dislodged mineral as mining progresses.

In known types of mining and loading machines, such as those known in the art as continuous miners, a disintegrating head is usually provided embodying a vertically swingable frame carrying orbitally movable disintegrating elements for dislodging relatively wide vertical segments of mineral from a solid mine vein. In such machines the disintegrating head is usually swingable in vertical planes with its effective outer dislodging portion moving through an arcuate path between the floor and roof of a mine, and the orbitally movable disintegrating elements, as the outer effective disintegrating portion head is sumped rectilinearly into the face of the vein, is swung arcuately in vertical planes and is finally withdrawn rectilinearly from the face, tear away fragments of the mineral from the solid, and the disintegrated mineral removed from the face is received by the conveying means of the machine and conveyed rearwardly from the face to a convenient point of delivery. Such machines usually embody gathering devices or floor clean-up means associated with the conveying means and which serve to gather any loose mineral which has fallen to the mine floor and to move the loose mineral so gathered onto the machine-conveying means. Moreover, in such known types of machines, the orbitally movable disintegrating elements act on the mineral inside of the face to tear the solid mineral outwardly toward the free face thereby to dislodge the mineral directly from the solid vein without the formation of appreciable cores.

The present invention contemplates improvements over such known types of mining and loading machines in that the disintegrating head mechanism has its orbitally movable disintegrating elements so arranged and constructed that continuous formation of cores of mineral is to a large extent effected, and the cores so formed are continuously dislodged as they are formed thereby to facilitate the tearing away of the mineral from the solid vein. In the present invention the intermediate disintegrating elements are mountedto move bodily in vertical planes with respect to the side disintegrating elements with the intermediate disintegrating elements of smaller vertical extent than the side disintegrating elements, so that coring and dislodgement of the cores is effected in a relatively rapid and efiicient manner, and the intermediate disintegrating elements are so arranged and mounted that at the end of the swinging movement of the disintegrating head and prior to the withdrawal operation, the intermediate disintegrating elements may be positioned bodily with respect to the side disintegrating elements completely to remove the core as the head is withdrawn from the face of the mine vein. The improved structures constituting the present invention are comparatively simple and rugged in design, Well adapted for their intended purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice improved mining apparatus having novel features of construction. Another object is to provide an improved mining and loading machine having improved disintegrating mechanism whereby the mineral of a solid mine vein may be rapidly and effectively dislodged. Yet another object is to provide an improved disintegrating head having orbitally movable disintegrating elements and mounted to swing in vertical planes, with the head so arranged and constructed that certain of the intermediate disintegrating elements may be moved bodily in vertical planes relative to the side disintegrating elements, with the intermediate elements of less vertical extent than the side elements, thereby to enable formation of cores of mineral during the dislodging operation and for removing the cores as rapidly as they are formed. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration two forms and a modification which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the forward portion of a mining and loading machine in which a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining and loading machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken in the planes of line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken in the planes of line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing details of the floor clean-up mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the plane of Fig. 3, showing a modified construction.

Fig. 8 is a rather schematic vertical sectional view showing the mining and loading machine in operating position in a mine, with the disintegrating head shown in different positions as indicated in full and dotted lines.

Fig. 9 is a front end elevational view of the disintegrating head, showing the same in core forming and dislodging position in a mine vein.

Fig. 10 is a detail side view, with parts shown in vertical section, illustrating the automatic control valve mechanism associated with one of the hydraulic head swing devices.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic fluid system with which the automatic control valve mechanism is associated.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal vertical section, similar to Fig. 8, illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the modified form of disintegrating head shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a front end elevational view, similar to Fig. 9, showing the disintegrating head of Fig. 12 in core forming and dislodging position in a mine vein.

Both illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown incorporated in a mining and loading machine which may be of the same general type as that disclosed in the Russell and Sibley applications, Serial Nos. 102,996 and 102,995, both filed on July 5, 1949, owned by applicants assignee. Evidently, features of the present invention may be embodied from mining apparatus of other types.

As disclosed in the copending applications above referred to, the mining and loading machine may generally comprise a mobile base 1, desirably a crawler base, which carries a frame 2 on which an upper frame 3 is swivelly mounted to swing horizontally about a vertical Guided on the swiugable frame 3 is a sliding frame which is reciprocably guided for rectilinear movement relative to the swingable frame 3 along a path extending in a direction radial with respect to the vertical swivel axis of the horizontally swingable frame. Carried by the reciprocable frame 4 is a conveying means 5 which has its forward receiving portion extending forwardly and downwardly beneath a disintegrating mechanism of a novel construction, generally designated 6, for receiving the disintegrated mineral dislodged from the face of the mine vein. Associated with the forward receiving portion of the conveying means 5 is a gathering or floor clean-up mechanism generally designated 7 of an improved design, for gathering loose mineral on the mine fioor and for moving the gathered mineral toward the receiving portion of the conveying means. The disintegrating mechanism 6 includes a disintegrating head 8 pivoted at 9 on side projections 19 of the sliding frame 4 to swing in vertical planes between the mine floor and roof, and hydraulically operated swing devices 11 are associated with the head for swinging the latter in vertical planes about its pivot. Motors 12 are mounted at the opposite sides of the swingable frame 3 and are operatively connected to the head mechanism for driving the latter, and the conveying means 5 is also driven by these motors, all in the manner fully disclosed in the copending applications above referred to. The present invention resides particularly in the novel features of construction of the disintegrating mechanism 6 and the floor v clean-up mechanism 7, as will now be made apparent.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, it will be noted that the improved disintegrating mechanism 6 comprises a pair of parallel vertical side bars or frames 15 of substantial vertical extent and having rearward bearing-engaging portions 16 which pivotally engage bearings 17 carried by annular bearing supports 18 mounted on a transverse shaft 19 aligned with the head pivot 9, as shown in Fig. 3. Gears 20 fixed to the opposite ends of this shaft are driven through gearings 21 enclosed within the side frame portions 10 which are operatively connected through couplings 22 and telescopic shafting 23 to the motors 12. The swingable side bars or frames 15 also have side bearing-engaging portions 24, spaced outwardly from the bearing-engaging portions 16, and these side portions pivotally engage bearings 25 supported by inwardly projecting circular bearing supports 26 secured to the inner sides of the side frame portions 10. Supported within the supports 26 are hearings in which the i cross shaft 19 is journaled. The vertical side bars or frames 15 of the disintegrating head have extending about their margins suitable guideways 29 along which endless side disintegrating chains 30 are guided for circulation in parallel vertical orbits with their top runs moving rearwardly, and chain sprockets 31, keyed to the cross shaft 19, engage and drive the side disintegrating chains 39. The disintegrating chains carry suitable detachable disintegrating elements such as cutter bits 32 arranged in staggered relation on the chains so as to provide slots or kerfs in the mineral of a width sufficient to receive the side bars during the disintegrating operation, in a well-known manner. The outer end portions 33 of the vertical side bars 15 are guided at 34 for longitudinal adjustment relative to the rearward portions of the bars for adjusting the tension of the side disintegrating chains, and adjusting screws 35 are journaled on the rearward bar portions and respectively engage nuts 36 on the adjustable end portions 33 for adjusting the latter along their guideways.

in this improved construction arranged intermediate the vertical side bars or frames 15 of the disintegrating head is a vertically swingable head frame 40 having rearward bearing-engaging portions 41 which pivotally engage bearings 42 carried by annular bearing supports 43 mounted on the cross shaft 19 whereby the intermediate frame 40 may swing in vertical planes with respect to the vertical side bars 15. The intermediate frame 40 has an adjustable outer end portion 44 provided with guides 45 slidingly received in guideways 46 formed in the rearward portion of the frame 40 and this outer frame portion 44 is adjustable with the outer end portions 33 of the vertical side bars 15 by means of the adjusting screws and nuts 35, 36. Extending about the intermediate swingable frame 40 and its outer adjustable end portion 44 are guideways 47 along which endless disintegrating chains 48 are guided for circulation in parallel vertical orbits parallel with the vertical orbits of the endless side chains 30, with their top runs likewise moving rearwardly, and chain sprockets 49 keyed to the cross shaft 19 engage and drive the intermediate disintegrating chains 48. The intermediate disintegrat ing chains carry staggered disintegrating elements such as cutter bits 50 similar to the cutter bits 32, and the cutter bits of the intermediate chains are so staggered, as shown in Fig. 4, as to dislodge the mineral in the space intermediate the vertical side chains during the disintegrating operation. The outer end portion 44 of the intermediate frame 40 is adjustable with respect to its rearward portion, as above described, to vary the tension of the intermediate disintegrating chains 48.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 7, the intermediate disintegrating chains 48 are driven at a speed substantially different from the speed of the endless side chains 30. This modified driving means comprises spur gears 51 formed on the hubs of the chain sprockets 31 which drive the side chains 30 and meshing with and driven by these spur gears are spur gears 51 fixed to shafts 52 suitably journaled in bearings supported by the vertical side bars 15. Keyed to and driven by the shafts 52. are spur gears 53 which mesh with and. drive spur gears 53 formed on a tubular shaft 19 coaxial with and rotatable relative to the cross shaft 19. The chain sprockets 31*- which drive the intermediate disintegrating chains 48 are formed integral with the tubular shaft 19 Thus, the intermediate disintegrating chains 48 may be driven in unison with the side chains 3r), through the spur reduction gearing driven by the chain sprockets 31 and operatively connected to the chain sprockets 31 at a speed somewhat slower than the driven speed of the side chains. By the provision of such relative speeds, the intermediate disintegrating chains act on the mineral intermediate the side chains to dislodge relatively large fragments of mineral, thereby substantially increasing the lump size obtainable.

Arranged in parallel transverse bores 54 and 54 respectively formed in the middle portion and the adjustable outer end portion 44 of the intermediate frame 40 are horizontal transverse cylindrical members 55 and 56 which extend transversely between the inner surfaces of the vertical side bars 15 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The cross member 55 has reduced end portions 55 which extend outwardly through arcuate slots 57 formed in the vertical side bars 15, and the cross member 56 has similar end portions 56 which project outwardly through similar arcuate slots 58 in the outer end portions 33 of the vertical side bars. Thus, the intermediate head frame 40 may swing in vertical planes with respect to the vertical side bars 15 with the projecting portions of the cross members moving in the arcuate slots 57 and 58 respectively (see also Fig. 5). As shown in Fig. 4, the vertical extent or height of the side disintegrating chains 30 owing to their wider orbits is substantially greater than the vertical extent or height of the intermediate disintegrating chains 48 with their narrower orbits, for a purpose to be later explained, and the intermediate frame 40 may swing in vertical planes both with and relative to the vertical side bars with the intermediate chains moving from the lower position with respect to the side bars, as shown in Fig. 4, to a raised position with the upper runs of the intermediate disintegrating chains disposed in common transverse planes with the upper runs of the side disintegrating chains.

The swinging mechanism for the disintegrating head may be similar to that disclosed in a copending application to John D. Russell, Serial No. 215,431, filed March 14, 1951, also owned by applicants assignee, and the swing devices 11 comprise hydraulic cylinders 60 secured to the outer sides of the vertical side bars 15 and containing pistons 61 (Fig. 10) having piston rods 62 pivotally connected at 63 to lever arms 64, the latter in turn being pivotally connected at their forward ends at 65 to the head side frames and connected at their rear ends at 66 to chain sections 67 which lie about curved forward surfaces 68 of the side frame portions 10. These chain sections are fastened at 69 to the tops of these side frame portions, as shown in Figs. "1 and 2. Thus, when liquid under pressure is properly supplied to the cylinders 60 the disintegrating head may be swung in vertical planes about its pivotal axis 9, and by trapping liquid in these cylinders the head may be held in adjusted position. Evidently, any other conventional type of head swing mechanism may be employed in lieu of that disclosed.

Hydraulically operated means is provided for swinging the intermediate head frame 40 in vertical planes about the pivotal axis 9 relative to the vertical side bars 15, comprising double acting hydraulic cylinders 71 pivotally connected at 72 to the outer sides of the vertical side bars 15, and these cylinders contain pistons 73 having their piston rods 74 extending downwardly through the lower cylinder heads and pivotally connected at 74 to the projecting ends 55 of the cross members 55 carried by the intermediate head frame. Thus, by properly supplying liquid under pressure to the cylinders 71, the pistons 73 may be moved to swing the intermediate head frame 40 either upwardly or downwardly in vertical planes about the pivot 9 relative to the side bars 15, and by trapping liquid in these cylinders the intermediate head frame may be rigidly locked in adjusted position against swinging movement relative to the side bars. The arcuate slots in the side bars may limit the range of swing of the intermediate head frame in either direction with respect to the side bars. When the intermediate head frame and vertical side bars are rigidly locked together the head frame parts may swing in unison about the pivotal axis 9.

Now referring to the automatic control mechanism for automatically effecting swing of the inner head frame 40 relative to the vertical side bars 15 at the end of the arcuate movement of the latter i. e. when the side bars reach the roof level, it will be noted that an automatic control valve device 75 is associated with the hydraulic fluid system. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11, a motor driven pump 76 has its suction side connected by a conduit 77 to a liquid reservoir or tank 78 and the discharge side of this pump is connected by a conduit 79 to the pressure passage of a valve box 80 of a conventonal manual control valve mechanism. The discharge passage of the valve box is connected by a return conduit 81 back to the tank 78. This valve box is formed with parallel bores which receive slide valves 82 and 83, each provided with a suitable operating handle. The bore containing the slide valve 82 is connected by a branched conduit 84 to the upper ends of the bores of the head swing cylinders 60 while the bore containing the slide valve 83 is connected by a conduit 85 to the pressure passage of the automatic control valve device 75. This control valve device has a valve casing 86 secured to the outer side of one of the vertical side bars 15 and formed with a bore 87 which receives a valve 88 of the sliding spool type provided with spaced spools connected by a reduced portion, and the conduit 85 communicates with the valve receiving bore intermediate the valve spools.

The upper end of the valve casing is connected by a conduit 89 to the return conduit 81 leading back to the tank. Communicating with the valve receiving bore 87 at longitudinally spaced points are conduits 90 and 91 which are branched to communicate with the opposite ends of the swing cylinders 71 for the intermediate head frame. The valve 88 has a depending valve stem 92 to which a flexible cable section 93 is connected. This cable section passes through an opening 94 in one of the lever arms 64 of the head swing mechanism and has adjustably secured thereto, as by a set screw 95, a stop collar 96. During the sumping of the outer portion of the disintegrating head into the mine vein at the floor level and during upward swing of the disintegrating head, the spool valve 88 may assume a position at the upper end of the valve casing bore 87 so as to connect the supply conduit with the conduit with the pistons 73 of the cylinders 71 disposed in their downward positions wherein the intermediate head frame 40 is maintained in its lowermost position with respect to the vertical side bars of the head. When the disintegrating head is swung upwardly in vertical planes about its pivot and the side bars approach the roof level the collar 96 on the cable 93 is engaged by'the lever arm 64 thereby to pull the spool valve 88 downwardly within its bore in the valve casing to connect the conduit 91 with the conduit 85 thereby to supply liquid under pressure to the lower ends of the cylinders 71 to effect swinging of the intermediate head frame 40 upwardly about its pivot rela tive to the vertical side bars to bring the outer end portions of the intermediate disintegrating chains up to the roof level. The collar 96 may be adjusted relative to the cable section 93 to vary the time when the spool valve 88 is shifted so that when thedisintegrating head is operating in mine veins of different heights, the time when the intermediate head frame is swung upwardly relative to the vertical side bars at the upward limit of head swing may be varied. By proper manipulation of the manual control valves 82 and 83 swinging of the head parts may be effected in the desired manner. When the valve 82 is positioned to connect the conduit 84 to the return conduit 81, fluid may be vented from the swing cylinders 60 to effect lowering of the disintegrating head about its pivot. By suitably positioning the valves 82 and 83 liquid may be trapped in the cylinders 60 and 71 to hold the parts in adjusted positions.

The improved gathering or floor clean-up mechanism 7 herein comprises a frame 100 pivoted at 101 to tilt in vertical planes relative to a front frame 102 of the conveying means 5. A conventional hydraulic cylinder and piston device 103 is pivotally connected between the lower portion of the frame 102 and a rearward projection 104 integral with the tiltable frame 100, for effecting tilting of the latter about its pivot and for holding the same in its elevated position. This tiltable frame is formed with a widened or laterally flared forward nose or shovel portion 105 which is adapted to be lowered into engagement with the mine floor and journaled in bearings 105 supported at the outer sides of the widened nose frame is a transverse roller or gathering bar 106 provided with a series of staggered paddlelike portions or gathering blades 106*, as shown in Fig. 6. Also mounted on gear housings 107 secured to the outer sides of the widened nose portion of the tiltable frame are hydraulic motors 108 having their power shafts connected through spur gearings 109 enclosed within the housings 107, to the ends of the rotary gathering bar 106. The tiltable frame has a transverse top plate 100 overlying the rotary gathering bar or drum and extending rearwardly to points above the forward ends of the conveyor frame 102, and projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom surface of the gathering roller is a bottom plate 100 which serves to direct the disintegrating mineral gathered by the roller rearwardly toward the receiving end of the conveying means. As the gathering mechanism, when in the position shown in Fig. 2, is advanced, any loose mineral which has fallen to the mine floor is directed along the widened front nose or shovel 105 of the frame toward the rotary gathering roller and the latter serves to move the mineral received thereby rearwardly toward the receiving end of the conveying means. Desirably the gathering roller rotates at a relatively rapid rate so that the loose material engaged thereby is thrown rearwardly toward the bottom surface of the top plate of the gathering frame with considerable force thereby causing the loose mineral to pile up within the gathering frame in the vicinity of the receiving portion of the conveying means. The loose material received by the conveying means is conveyed upwardly and rearwardly beneath the disintegrating head mechanism and is conveyed rearwardly of the machine to a point of discharge located rearwardly of the machine base in a well-known manner. The hydraulic motors 103 operate in unison and conventional manual control valves may be provided for controlling flow of liquid under pressure to these motors and to the hydraulic cylinder 103 also in a well-known manner.

Now referring to the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, it will be observed that the forward portion of the machine, the vertical side bars 15 of the disintegrating head, and the swing cylinder devices for the head parts are essentially the same as these described above. In this instance, however, the intermediate swingable head frame has parallel vertical side bars or frames lying just inside of the vertical side bars 15 (Fig. 14), and this intermediate frame, as in the preferred embodiment, is pivotally mounted to swing in vertical planes about the pivot 9 of the vertical side bars, both with and relative to the latter. The series of intermediate disintegrating chains are omitted in this embodiment, and a transverse disintegrating roller or rotary bar 111 is journaled for rotation on the outer portions of the side frames 110. This roller is provided with suitable disintegrating teeth 112 and is driven by endless chains 113 which engage sprockets fixed to the ends of the rotary bar shaft and which are in turn driven by chain sprockets 114 fixed to the cross shaft 19'. Guided for circulation along suitable guideways provided by the intermediate head frame 40 is an endless conveyor 115 having a central drive chain 116 also driven by a chain sprocket secured to the cross shaft 19. The forward portion of the conveyor chain passes around an idler sprocket 117 joutnaled on a forwardly located cross shaft 11% suitably supported by and secured to the side frames 110,

as shown in Fig. 14. A deflector plate 119 extends transversely between the side frames 110 and is located longitudinally of the head between the rotary disintegrating drum 111 and the forward receiving portion of the conveyor 115 for deflecting the disintegrated mineral from the drum toward the conveyor. frame 40' has side housings 120 enclosing the drive chains 113 and providing a troughlike frame for the conveyor. Secured to the conveyor chain are lateral conveyor flights 121 which are adapted to move loose mineral along a bottom plate 122 carried by the side frames of the intermediate head frame. As in the embodiment above described, the hydraulic cylinders 71 are connected between the vertical side frames 15 and the intermediate head frame 40' to effect swinging of the latter in vertical planes relative to the side frames and for locking the intermediate frame in adjusted position. The hydraulic cylinders 60 may be operated to swing the vertical side bars and intermediate head frame of the disintegrating head upwardly as a unit about the pivot 9.

In both embodiments, as the disintegrating head is fed into the mine vein, the side disintegrating chains 30 form parallel vertical slots or kerfs 123 in the mineral of the mine vein and the intermediate disintegrating elements cooperate to form a transverse opening 124 connecting The intermediate head the lower portion of the vertical slots as shown in Figs. 9 and 15. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the transverse opening is formed by the intermediate disintegrating chains 43, while in the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 15, the transverse opening is formed by the rotary drum 111. The vertical slots cooperate to form a core 125 therebetween and the intermediate disintegrating elements act on the bottom wall of this core to tear away fragments thereof as the disintegrating head is swung upwardly in vertical planes about its pivot. When the intermediate head frame is swung upwardly about its pivot the intermediate disintegrating elements cooperate completely to remove the core 12-5, up to a position at the tops of the vertical slots 123.

' The general mode of operation of the mining and loading machine is as follows: The machine may be trammed about the mine by the crawler treads of the mobile base i, and when the machine is properly positioned with respec to the working face of the mine vein, the disintegrating head 3, by adjustment of the swingable frame 3, may be located in the desired lateral position, in a manner similar to that described in the Russell and Sibley applications mcntioncd above. When the disintegrating head is properly laterally locate-:1, liquid may be vented from the cylinders to cause the disintegrating head to swing downwardly about its pivot to bring its outer portion down to the floor level, and thereafter liquid may be trapped in the swing cylinders to lock the head in adjusted position. The sliding frame may then be fed forwardly in a manner aiso described in the above mentioned Russell and Sibley applications to sump the outer portion of the head rectilincarly into the mineral of the mine vein to the position shown in full lines at A in Fig. 8. Upon completion of the s roping operation, liquid under pressure may be supplied to the swing cylinders 60 to swing the disintegrating head upwardiy in vertical planes about its pivot thereby to effect dislodgement of a wide vertical segment of mineral from the mine vein between the floor and the roof. Durir upswing of the head the side disintegrating elements or side chains form the parallel vertical slots 1233 in the l at to provide a core 125 and the intermediate o,...cg ..tiug elements or chains act on the bottom of the core to dislodge the same in relatively large fragments from the solid, in the manner previously referred to. When the outer portion of the disintegrating head approaches the roof level, the automatic control valve device '75 is operated by the trip mechanism 64, 93, 9:5 to effect a supply of liquid under pressure to the swing cylinders 71 thereby to effect swinging of the intermediate head frame ill to move the intermediate disintegrating elemcnts upwardly in vertical planes about the head pivot relative to the side chains to the position indicated in dotted lines at B in Fig. 8. The liquid may then be trapped in the swing cylinders 60 and 71, locking the head parts against swinging movement and the sliding frame 4 is then moved rearwardly to withdraw the outer portion of the disintegrating head rectilinearly from the mine vein, thereby to complete the removal of the vertical segment of mineral from the face. During the operation of the disintegrating head the disintegrated mineral removed from the face is moved rearwardly by the upper runs of the disintegrating chains in the preferred embodiment, and by the side disintegrating chains and the intermediate conveyor of the modified embodiment, and the disintegrated mineral is discharged from the head rearwardly onto the conveying means 5 of the ma chine. In the modified construction shown in Fig. 7, the intermediate disintegrating elements are driven at a speed substantially slower than the side disintegrating elements so that the action of the intermediate disintegrating elements on the core of mineral tends to dislodge the mineral in larger fragments thereby to increase the lump size of the mineral produced.

As the mineral is dislodged from the mine vein and is disintegrated, some of the disintegrated mineral falls to the'mine floor and as the machine is advanced toward the coal face, the front nose or shovel 105 of the floor clean-up mechanism 7, which is at that time disposed at the floor level as shown in Fig. 2, serves to direct the loose mineral rearwardly and upwardly into the range of action of the rotary gathering drum or bar 106 and the mineral engaged by the gathering drum is thrown rearwardly with substantial force within the clean-up frame 100 wherein it is received by the front receiving portion of the conveying means 5. The cylinder and piston device 103 may be operated to swing the clean-up mechanism upwardly about its pivot so that during trammingrof the machine the clean-up mechanism is disposed in its elevated position above the floor level, as shown in Fig. 5. Since the other general functions of the mining and loading apparatus are fully disclosed in the above mentioned Russell and Sibley applications, further description of the same herein is deemed unnecessary.

As a result of this invention, an improved cutting and loading machine is provided for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein and for loading the dislodged mineral in an improved and more effective manner. By the provision of the novel disintegrating head embodying the vertical side disintegrating elements and the intermediate disintegrating elements mounted to swing in vertical planes relative to the side disintegrating elements, the mineral may be dislodged from the solid more efliciently and rapidly. The novel head structure by including the side chains which form parallel vertical kerfs in the mineral of the mine vein to provide a core between the kerfs, and the vertically swingable intermediate disintegrating elements for tearing away fragments of the core as it is formed, results in the removal of mineral from the solid in an improved and relatively easy manner. By the provision of the novel floor clean-up mechanism associated with the disintegrating mechanism and. the conveying means of the machine, any loose material which falls to the mine floor may be effectively cleaned up and rapidly moved toward the receiving portion of the conveying means. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described two forms and a modification which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms and modification of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of'the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine, a disintegrating head mechanism for removing mineral from a solid mine vein, said head mechanism mounted to move in a direction opposed to its length and comprising parallel outer disintegrating elements movable in parallel orbits to form parallel slots in the mineral of a mine vein, intermediate disintegrating elements movable in parallel orbits in parallelism with the orbits of said outer elements and cooperating to form a transverse opening in the mineral with such opening extending between and communicating with said parallel slots thereby to provide a core of mineral between the slots, means for mounting said intermediate disintegrating elements for movement relative to said outer elements in substantially the same direction as the direction of operating movement of said head mechanism to eifect tearing away of the core as said head mechanism is moved as aforesaid, and means for moving said intermediate disintegrating elements as aforesaid relative to said outer elements.

2. A mining machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the movement of said head mechanism is a swinging movement and said head mechanism is mounted to swing about a pivotal axis and said intermediate disintegrating elements are mounted to swing about a pivotal axis in the same direction as the direction of swing of said head .110 mechanism, said intermediate disintegrating elements swinging relative to said outer disintegrating elements about an axis coincident with said pivotal axis of said head mechanism.

3. In a mining machine, a disintegrating head comprising parallel outer bars having endless disintegrating chains guided for orbital circulation about their margins, means for mounting said outer bars for swinging movement in unison about a pivotal axis, an intermediate head frame arranged between said outer bars, means for pivotally mounting said intermediate frame to swing in the same direction as the direction of swing of said outer bars relative to said outer bars about an axis coincident with the pivotal axis of said outer bars, means whereby said intermediate frame may be swung about its pivot into differentv positions relative to said outer bars, and disintegrating elements mounted for movement in parallel orbits on the outer portion of said intermediate frame, said intermediate head frame swingable about its pivotal axis relative to said outer bars to move the orbits of said disintegrating elements into different angular positions relative to the orbits of said disintegrating chains.

4. A disintegrating mechanism of the character disclosed comprising a head frame pivotally mounted to swing about a pivotal axis and comprising parallel outer frames and endless disintegrating chains guided for orbital circulation about the margins of said outer frames, an intermediate disintegrating frame arranged between said outer frames and pivotally mounted to swing about a pivotal axis relative to said outer frames, power operated devices for swinging said outer and intermediate frames in unison about their pivotal axes, andpower operated devices for swinging said intermediate frame about its pivotal axis relative to said outer frames and for holding said intermediate frame in adjusted position relative to said outer frames.

5. A disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said outer frames and said intermediate frame have cooperating means for limiting the range of pivotal movement of said intermediate frame in either direction relative to said outer frames.

6. A disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein automatic control mechanism actuated by swinging movement of said head frame is provided for automatically controlling the flow of power to said last mentioned power operated means when said head frame approaches the end of its travel in one direction.

7. A disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein both of said power operated devices are fluid actuated, and said control mechanism comprises a control valve means for regulating the fluid supply with respect to said last mentioned power operated devices.

8. A disintegrating mechanism of the character disclosed comprising outer disintegrating elements movable through an. elongated path and mounted to move in a direction opposed to the major dimension of their elongated paths for cutting parallel slots in the mineral of a solid mine vein to form a core of mineral between the slots, cooperating disintegrating elements arranged intermediate said outer disintegrating elements for removing the core of mineral between said slots, said outer disintegrating elements being of substantially greater extent in said direction of movement than said intermediate disintegrating elements, means for mounting said intermediate disintegrating elements to move in generally the same direction as the direction of movement of said outer disintegrating elements as aforesaid, said intermediate disintegrating elements movable in said direction relative to and between said outer disintegrating elements whereby all of the core of mineral between the opposed limits of said slots may be removed, and means whereby said intermediate disintegrating elements may be moved into different positions relative to said outer elements as aforesaid.

9. A disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said outer disintegrating elements are mounted on a frame pivoted to swing in one direction, and said intermediate disintegrating elements are mounted on an intermediate frame pivoted to swing in generally the same direction as the direction of swing of said first mentioned frame either with or relative to said first mentioned frame.

10. A swingable disintegrating mechanism of the character disclosed, comprising parallel outer disintegrating elements guided for orbital movement, intermediate orbitally movable disintegrating elements arranged between said outer disintegrating elements, motor operated driving means for said outer disintegrating elements including a driving element coaxial with the pivot of swing of the disintegrating mechanism, and means driven by said coaxial element for driving said intermediate disintegrating elements at a speed substantially different from the speed of said side disintegrating elements, said last mentioned driving means comprising a driving element coaxial with and rotatable relative to said coaxial element and connected to said intermediate disintegrating elements independently of said outer disintegrating elements.

11. A swingable disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second mentioned driving means comprises reduction gearing driven by said coaxial element for driving said coaxial driving element for said intermediate disintegrating elements at a speed substantially slower than the speed of said outer disintegrating elements.

12. In a disintegrating mechanism of the character disclosed, elongated parallel outer frames connected together to move in unison in a direction opposed to their lengths, disintegrating means carried by said outer frames respectively for cutting parallel kerfs in a solid mine vein upon movement of said frames in unison to form a transverse core of mineral extending between the kerfs as said frames are moved, an intermediate frame mounted between said outer frames to move relative thereto between opposed longitudinal portions thereof generally in the direction of movement of said outer frames as aforesaid, disintegrating means carried by said intermediate frame for dislodging the core of mineral between the kerfs as said intermediate frame is moved as aforesaid between said outer frames, and means for moving said intermediate frame as aforesaid relative to said outer frames during the disintegrating operation, said disintegrating means of said outer and intermediate frames coacting to dislodge a relatively wide segment of mineral from a solid mine vein.

13. A disintegrating'mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein said outer and intermediate frames are pivoted to swing about alined axes and said intermediate frame is swingable about its pivotal axis relative to said outer frames.

14. In a disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein said outer and intermediate disintegrating means move along parallel orbital paths and said disintegrating means of said outer frames move in orbits of different shape and size from that of said disintegrating means of said intermediate frame.

15. A disintegrating mechanism comprising, in combination, parallel outer bars connected together for swinging movement about alined pivotal axes, endless disintegrating chains guided for orbital circulation about said outer bars, an intermediate frame arranged between said outer bars and mounted to swing relative to said outer bars about an axis coincident with said pivotal axes of said outer bars, means whereby said intermediate frame may be swung about its pivot into difierent positions relative to said outer bars, and dis ntegrating elements mounted on said intermediate frame for move ment in parallel orbits in parallelism with said chain orbits.

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